The Altra One2 Receives a Big Overhaul

The One2 (pronounced one-squared, not one-two) will be the first update to Altra’s low profile and lightweight performance shoe, and though the shoe will retain its fast, performance-oriented personality, this update is actually a fairly significant overhaul of the shoe.

Let’s go through a quick rundown of all the changes, shall we?

Midsole: The midsole consists of what Altra calls its InnerFlex EVA, featuring deep flex grooves from heel to forefoot for a smooth and flexible ride that allows your foot to function naturally through the gait cycle. Sitting above the InnerFlex EVA is a thin layer of Altra’s A-Bound compound, providing runners with a familiar, responsive underfoot feel. In all, the stack height of the shoe will increase slightly, giving you a little more protection from the road below for higher mileage efforts.

Outsole: The full, hard rubber outsole of the previous version has been scaled back, keeping the weight of the shoe down, though high abrasion rubber is retained in high wear areas for durability.

Upper: Altra has traded in the open mesh of the original version, opting instead for a softer, closed mesh. This should result in a little more comfort over the foot, though we can expect a touch less breathability with this update.

In all, the One2 drops a nice bit of weight in this update, and should be a fantastic shoe for marathon racing and speedwork. Expect the One2 to be a top choice for the runner who wants both high performance and a natural ride.